Herm Edwards (2:33)

Just want to give you the opportunity.

Matt Byron (2:34)

To comment on that and provide some.

Herm Edwards (2:36)

Sort of explanation on that. Yeah, well, no, it's clear that I'm not welcome there around their facility, and so they're not welcome in ours. Pretty simple.

Matt Byron (2:46)

I'm not welcome there, so they're not welcome here. It's. It's kind of terrible for the players, but I kind of love the pettiness. Myron, how about you?

Myron Metcalf (2:58)

I mean, seventh grade. What is this? You know, middle school Is weird to hear Bill Belichick talking like that. I guess I also didn't understand that level of animosity. Clearly, he didn't exit the Patriots the way he wanted to, but I didn't realize there was that kind of bad blood between those two like that.

Matt Byron (3:15)

So he's also one of those guys, clearly, that takes things that happen to other people, but takes it really personally when it's him. Yes. I mean, any coach that is let go is not welcome in the facility. They let you go, and then if you. If you took that attitude of. I mean, that would be like me going. They would call me up and say, hey, you know, the governor would like to come to your house. And I'd be like, well, if I'm not allowed to walk around the governor's mansion, I don't know why he's around. Allowed to walk around my house. It seems like an odd policy. Yeah.

Myron Metcalf (3:48)

What does he want to do with the Patriots facility? Like, do they got a popcorn machine or something he really likes? Does he have a favorite chair? Like, what does he want to do there? Like, I think that's one of those situations where he thought he would get fired and they'd still let him keep his pass to get into the building, you know, But.

Matt Byron (4:03)

Well, Mike Brable, by the way, the Patriots head coach, I guess, was asked this morning about the comments, and here's what he had to say. I know this is game week, but I'd be remiss if I didn't ask.

Herm Edwards (4:16)

You if you had any comment.

Myron Metcalf (4:19)

Probably not, but I'll hear you out. Bill Belichick, banning your scouts from.

Matt Byron (4:24)

Oh, no, that's an individual choice.

Myron Metcalf (4:27)

And, you know, we'll cross that bridge.

Matt Byron (4:31)

You know, when we start looking at players.

Myron Metcalf (4:32)

I want to focus on our football team, and that's their prerogative, you know, to make the decisions that they feel like are best for them.

Matt Byron (4:44)

And then we'll have to find other ways to get the information for any.

Myron Metcalf (4:49)

Players that we want to look at.

Matt Byron (4:50)

At North Carolina UNC versus the Patriots. I gotta love it. Myron, listen, pettiness makes me smile even if I think it's not smart.

Myron Metcalf (5:00)

Yeah. I don't think it helps his team. Like ultimately the Patriots I think will be okay if they can't go to North Carolina, but if there's a North Carolina player who can compete at that level and they're keeping NFL teams away, I don't think that helps them. So like, I just wonder if the whole approach is going to work.

Matt Byron (5:17)

Of course it's.

Myron Metcalf (5:18)

But I mean, but everything about them, like the whole old school approach, like it's not 1989, man, you adapt to the times.

Matt Byron (5:25)

But. But it does it. Here's the thing. I'm not, I, I was never a Patriots guy, but it doesn't matter. Like this has nothing to do with what he did for the Patriots. As, as Bill Burr said on Rich Eisen this week, you know who sits around and goes, I don't like Johnny Unit as he played for the Rams. Like, I mean this is just going to be something that goes into the. This is. No one's going to care. But it will entertain me in the interim. Oklahoma and Michigan play last night. Oklahoma gets a big win. First time Oklahoma's look like Oklahoma in a couple years. Bryce Underwood, the rookie or the freshman quarterback, goes place in his first true game. What do you think about the Sooners and the Wolverines last night?

Myron Metcalf (6:03)

Well, I mean the Underwood. I think the thing that people are talking about is he kind of got into it with one of his teammates. I don't know if you saw that. Yeah, was kind of drawn with the teammates and people were talking about the maturity. I mean any true freshman is going to run into, I think challenges. They're learning how to be a leader. I think we forget. Even though he got some massive nil deal, it's still going to take a while for him to kind of figure out how to compete, I think at this level. But I think Oklahoma's quarterback, the John Matea kid, could be really good.

Matt Byron (6:29)

He went from plus 1600 for the Heisman to maybe plus 900 in a game. So I mean clearly people liked what they saw.

Myron Metcalf (6:37)

Yeah, I mean and I think a lot of that is. Remember we started Arch Manning, people thinking he was the favorite last week happened and then it felt like now it's wide open in the Heisman race and I think he certainly made an early.

Matt Byron (6:48)

Case, but it's former Washington State quarterbacks have quite a run going here. If you played there. Oklahoma, I don't think they're a contender, but that's a big win for the sec which has had. After Alabama lost, you were like, oh, the SEC is in trouble. They've had a pretty good non conference since then. Except for the Florida Gators who yesterday lost at home to South Florida. A massive loss for Billy Napier's program who I think plays lsu, Georgia, Texas A and M and Miami in their next four games. All those teams ranked in the top 15. And then you lose at home, Myer to South Florida, a South Florida team that might now be in the driver's spot to get the non power bid to the playoffs.

Myron Metcalf (7:32)

Yeah, I mean they gotta play Miami next week, but even if you lose to Miami, I don't think there's another ranked team on their schedule after that. So I mean this is a South Florida team that could go into the postseason with one loss and have a shot. It also reminded me, Matt, of how different the south is from the rest of the country in football that like the South Florida kids are the kids who Miami, Florida, Florida State maybe didn't want and they're still. But there's still so many good athletes and then they come out and get the win. But if you're Florida, I mean the Brendan Beck kid who. The spitting thing, man. And we had that obviously in the Eagles game this week. I would be so furious at that. Dude. That literally is what happened is the spitting incident happens. South Florida gets a first down, they move down the field, they kick the game winning field goal. Like that's on that dude. Just doing something that you can't do ever. But certainly not in that moment.

Matt Byron (8:22)

Yeah. By the way, next week South Florida plays Miami, Tulane plays Ole Miss. Those two games might be the games that decide who go to the playoff. Seriously, those, those two games, if Tulane beats Ole Miss, if South Florida wins, Tulane doesn't like this. Really. In week three might be the playoff decision for the, for the non power conferences. And then towards the end of the day, Oklahoma, or excuse me, Oregon beat Oklahoma State 69 to 3. 60. Now let me say that again, a Power 4 school got beat 69 to 3. Now you may remember Oklahoma State saying something like, well, Oregon spends so much on their players. Mike Gundy said, what do you expect me. They spend so much on their players. He said that Leading into the year. You think that made Dan Lanning and Oregon push the gas a little bit to create an eye popping score?

Myron Metcalf (9:19)

Yeah, but like, who promotes that? They don't pay their players. Like, like who owns a company that's like, hey, if you want to make less than minimum wage, come to Al's car lot. Like, what do you mean? How are you helping your cause, man? It doesn't make sense.

Matt Byron (9:33)

See, coaches are put in a weird spot with nil because if they don't have the what they think they need to compete. They feel like they need to say it, but then it makes it look like a cheapskate. And then nobody wants to come to him anyway. So it's like they. And Mike Gundy's a goober. Always been a goober. The difference is T. Boone Pickens used to give money and he. And then all of a sudden he's running around going, I can wear this T shirt that says my rights, I'm an American, I'm 40. And then all of a sudden he stops giving the money and he's like, things are very difficult for me here. And still wonder, like, everything changes. The moment when you've got a big billionaire backer, you speak with more of your chest. When you don't, you speak with your mullet in the back and try to cry.

Myron Metcalf (10:12)

Yeah, but also make something up. If the money isn't there, just lie for a little bit. Like, don't say we don't have any money to give out. I don't know how that we want everybody at a discount. If you want to make 40% less than you would make everywhere else, come to Oklahoma State. What kind of pitch is that?

Matt Byron (10:28)

Come to Oklahoma State. Not only our prices lower, our pay is too. I'm Mike Gun. I approve this message. No benefits, health care. Who you think you are. It is week one of the NFL season and last season. Super bowl teams, however, have already played. The Eagles won, the Chiefs lost. We will talk about what those games mean and get you ready for week one. That's next here on Matt and Myron.

Myron Metcalf (11:00)

Matt and Myron, the pod.

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Matt Byron (12:58)

The Eagles overcame a 7 nothing.

Herm Edwards (13:00)

Deficit and they have beaten the Dallas Cowboys 24 20.

Myron Metcalf (13:05)

Jalen played a really efficient game and he's a big reason why we won that football game tonight, the game that he played. I think as a whole team. I think it's just a matter of taking our discipline to another level and our focus to another level and then playing together. I thought Jalen hurts looked really good.

Matt Byron (13:21)

If he takes another step forward, the Eagles might be even that much more.

Myron Metcalf (13:25)

Tougher than we already expect.

Matt Byron (13:27)

They did blow the whistle early in the game on the Eagles and Jalen Carter to after the spitting incident on play one of the NFL season, it's Matt Byron here on ESPN Radio. Thursday night the super bowl champs played. Friday night the super bowl runners up play. Historically, in a year after a Super bowl, the champs do pretty well. Maybe they don't win it, but they're in contention and the runner up in the super bowl has historically struggled. Matter of fact, only making the playoffs or only making the championship game of their conference three times in the last 27 years and this week was a similar result. The Eagles come out and they win. It was a very close game. Byron I mean, the Cowboys played well throughout, jumped on them early, but the Eagles ended up winning. What was your thought about both starts? I actually think there's an argument both teams could be a little bit encouraged by their performance. What do you think?

Myron Metcalf (14:23)

Yeah, I mean, I think with the Cowboys, their margin for error is just a lot smaller than the Eagles is. I mean, I think there are a lot of things that the Eagles struggled with. A.J. brown didn't get a lot of targets. You lose Jalen Carter before the first snap of the game, which was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. But you could also see just the confidence they play with down the stretch. Like Dak Prescott needed. Needed CD Lamb to make a couple of miraculous catches in order for them to stay in that game and to win it. And I think that'll be the case.

Matt Byron (14:51)

Going forward, but I don't think they were miraculous. He dropped two balls right in his hands.

Myron Metcalf (14:56)

There were two that he should add. There was one that would have been a little more difficult, but I think that, to me, is the only way they're going to be able to beat elite teams is if CD Lamb has a crazy game every Sunday and puts them in that spot.

Matt Byron (15:08)

Anything short of CD Lamb thing, I mean, the biggest takeaway from the game was obviously the Jalen Carter spitting the incident and who could express the most outrage. So. So let me make sure I do that. It was outrageous. Okay. Now, having done that, you don't think it was.

Myron Metcalf (15:22)

Are you being psychiatric?

Matt Byron (15:23)

I do think it was. But, like, what else are you going to say? I mean, I. It's always kind of a. In sports. There are certain positions to me, that are so obvious. I don't know why people go on and on about them. Clearly, you cannot spit dude's face.

Myron Metcalf (15:38)

Like, clearly it's because it's him, though. But it's because it's him, though. It's the Georgia stuff, too. Like, that's what a lot of people.

Matt Byron (15:43)

I know.

Myron Metcalf (15:44)

I don't know if that's fair.

Matt Byron (15:46)

Know that. Doesn't everybody know that Jalen Carter is an immense talent who you have to worry about this with? I mean, I thought that was kind of a given, right?

Myron Metcalf (15:55)

Yeah. I think people saw it publicly when you do something like that. And that's selfish. That's a rare.

Matt Byron (16:01)

That is very selfish. But I guess. I don't know, I just. I guess I thought that was kind of obvious. Clearly, it was selfish. What I did think was a little more interesting to me was what happened with CD Lamb, because, I mean, CD Lamb, if you're going to not pay Michael Parsons, right, because you don't think he's worth that money, and we'll see if that choice ends up being correct or not. You have already made the decision to overpay for Dak Prescott and CD Lamb. The Dak Prescott debate has gone on for years. People are where they are on it. But on CD Lamb, I think there's generally always been an agreement. Well, great player makes the plays down the stretch, but if you can't make those, I mean, those were you. You mentioned one of them was hard, but a great receiver makes that catch, and two of them were right in his hands. Like, he dropped major passes that were, you know, huge. That, to me, is worrisome. If you're the Cowboys, you're paying all that money for this guy, you let Michael Parsons walk in part because they paid you so much, you can't drop those passes.

Myron Metcalf (17:01)

No, you're. You're right. I think he's one of the few guys, you know, Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase. I don't know who else is on that list of guys that you expect to make those catches. I think for me, what was clear is that the Eagles and everybody in the world knew that that was the only way for the Cowboys to win. Dad Prescott was going to launch it to CD Lamb and hope that he could make one of those catches. And the pressure that they put on him, to me, suggested that the Eagles didn't think the Cowboys had another way to do it. Like, they didn't. They didn't have another way to beat them. And I just think that's going to be the constant for the Cowboys going forward. How good can Dak Prescott be? How good can CD Lamb be? Because you can't count on that defense, especially now without Micah Parsons. And that, to me, just makes the margin for error even smaller for this Cowboys team if they're trying to be a contender.

Matt Byron (17:44)

Nick Sirianni said he was going to leave the response to Jalen Carter in house.

Myron Metcalf (17:50)

Okay, yippee.

Matt Byron (17:52)

I mean, to some extent, nflt, you should tell people. But you know what? Everybody saw it. The whole world was tuned into the first game, first play, and then you spit in the face like, that's. That's going to hang with Jalen Carter for a long time. Like, when you, you know, you do that. Like, if you do that in the third quarter of week six, people will forget you do that first play of week one in a game the whole country's watching, that's going to stick with you for a long time.

Myron Metcalf (18:20)

Just what do you make of that Prescott spitting towards him? Did you, did you think that that was.

Matt Byron (18:23)

I mean, I feel like that happens a lot. I mean, yeah, maybe he shouldn't have done it, but that's not like a kick. Get kicked out. There's a difference between spit at and spit on. Spit ad is disrespectful. Spit on is, I'm gonna punch you in the face.

Myron Metcalf (18:39)

Two different things.

Matt Byron (18:40)

Chiefs and Chargers playing in Brazil Charger Chiefs really never looked 100% connected at the beginning of the game. Then I thought they found the rhythm as it went on, but the Chargers were already ahead. To me, the story, there's two stories. Justin Herbert plays, I think very well, makes big play, make a big run there at the end to get the, to seal the victory. And then, you know, you do have to wonder the struggles we saw last year with the Chiefs in their offense where they went 11 and one in one score games. Now they're already owing one. There are people who say, you know what, that might end up progressing and they go back to where it catches up to them. Do you think that's the case?

Myron Metcalf (19:21)

Yeah, I mean, let's be clear. Patrick Mahomes hasn't been the best quarterback in the NFL in three years.

Matt Byron (19:25)

Right?

Myron Metcalf (19:26)

Like he, he wasn't in 2023, he wasn't in 2024. You saw the struggles last year. You saw a bunch of nail biter games where they kind of squeezed through, they got the win and everyone said, well that's just what Kansas City does. And then they faced a real one in the super bowl and they got smacked. And I think this is a, a Kansas City team where what's clear, that division is going to be tougher. The Chargers look better with Justin Herbert at everything that he's able to do. The receivers, Quentin Johnson, Keenan Allen, all the pieces they have.

Matt Byron (19:54)

Keenan made big play after big play. I mean that's a big get back for them.

Myron Metcalf (19:59)

And now he's coming back to the Chargers. Obviously the Broncos, I think people expect to be better. It's hard for the Raiders to be worse. I mean, I think they'll improve now with Geno Smith, Brock Bowers, Ashton Genty. So I just think the path to the super bowl and that's not even including the Bills and Ravens, all those other teams is going to be more difficult for a Kansas City team that needs Mahomes to play at a very, very high level to be Eagles next week.

Matt Byron (20:24)

Right. I mean, so you know, there's there's that I do. I'm a big believer in over time. Things like fumbles equal out. You know, there's a karma to this and 11 and one last year, there's a little bit of that. That's fool's gold in terms of being able to always be in these one score games and win. How good can the Chargers be? I always say there are no Chargers fans, there's only Chargers uniforms. But if there were Chargers fans out there, is that, are they a contender?

Myron Metcalf (20:58)

Well, I mean if Justin Herbert plays that way, I think the most impressive thing was Justin Herbert excelled in the same situations that everyone has criticized him about. Can you finish fourth quarter? They need a big play. I think it's third and 14, 19 yard scramble slides and everybody goes wild because those are the kinds of plays that they needed him to make in the past couple years and he just didn't. So I think if he plays like this, sure. Offensive line there questions Rashawn Slater, the guy who signed a big contract before the season gets hurt. Makai Becton has never been healthy, it feels like in his career. But I think if they can fortify that offensive line, they have the weapons to play really well on offense and I think defense. Derwin James and all those guys can really anchor a tough unit too. So the Chargers could be a really good team.

Matt Byron (21:40)

I think I'm gonna be interested to see you. You've all, you've hated Patrick Mahomes for years. You always say that he's not very good anymore and so now he hasn't.

Myron Metcalf (21:47)

Been the best quarterback in three years.

Matt Byron (21:49)

You're always very adamant to say that. I wonder if Justin Herbert's going to be your guy because the thing was he made all those plays, he just wouldn't make them at the end of games. Right. Like you'd get to the end of the fourth quarter and then he wouldn't make the play. And now this week he makes that play, that play that in the last couple of years maybe he didn't. He made it with that run at the end and a couple of those passes. And so now maybe he gets the Meyer Metcalf seal of approval that Patrick Mahomes can't seem to get from you.

Myron Metcalf (22:17)

I mean, Harbaugh can coach quarterbacks, you know that. I mean, if you could say whatever you want about the khaki pants, he can coach quarterbacks. And I think you're seeing that development already.

Matt Byron (22:24)

Well, good. Justin Herbert, AKA Myron's favorite quarterback. Now it's time to actually get to the games that are coming today. Herm Edwards. Haven't talked to him in a long time. I love her. He's going to talk about how he can throw a football over a mountain. That'll be next right here at Matt and Myron on ESPN Radio.

Myron Metcalf (22:43)

Matt and Myon, the podcast.

Matt Byron (23:03)

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn more@WhatsApp.com this episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off customers, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor.

Myron Metcalf (23:51)

State Farm is there.

Matt Byron (23:58)

Football season is back and it's Matt Myron presented by Progressive Insurance. Cars, homes, boats, motorcycles, RVs and more@progressive.com and I'll tell you who else is here. When it's football season, that means we bring our guy Herm back. Herms back. Herm Edwards. Myron. We've missed you, coach.

Herm Edwards (24:18)

I appreciate you guys. I missed you as well. I had to watch some college football before we kicked this NFL off season off. And as you know, I pay tuition now for two of my daughters at Texas. Didn't start off good, but they rallied this week, so we're okay.

Matt Byron (24:36)

And you got your guys at Arizona State. Didn't do too well either, but that's okay. That's okay, Herb, because you're here. Did I hear you're gonna be on Good Morning America 3? What is that? What is that?

Herm Edwards (24:49)

Yeah, well, I was already on this morning. I go on all every Sunday morning and then I come back on again later on this afternoon. You know, I gotta. I gotta spread the wealth out. You know how that works.

Matt Byron (25:01)

There's a lot of Herm to go around. He doesn't have to just do one show. That's right. Let me ask you, okay, before we get to. We'll get to new games in just a second. Let me go quickly to Friday night. We were just talking about CD Lamb. You're going to pay CD Lamb a lot of money. Let Micah Parsons. Go. He's got to make those catches down the stretch, doesn't he?

Herm Edwards (25:19)

Oh, absolutely. And this is why you pay star players in big moments. This is why they're stars. And a star player will tell you that that's their stage. You know, I've always said this, and that is the reluctance of Jerry Jones to finally not pay Michael Parsons. He's had one sack and for a playoff appearance. So when stars don't show up for you in big moments, that hurts your football team, because that's what they live for. Stars want to be on the stage at the biggest moment, right? I mean, that's. That's why they're the stars. You got to catch those balls, coach.

Myron Metcalf (25:50)

You're standing on the sidelines, you're leading your team. You see your best defensive player spit on the starting quarterback of the opposing team, they get ejected. What are you doing after? How are you handling that with a Jalen Carter as a coach?

Herm Edwards (26:04)

Well, I'm gonna call him in, obviously, and gonna remind him that this is professional football and the code of conduct is very important to me as well as to the league. And I would tell him, you're gonna have to learn the hard way, because I wouldn't play him this week, guys.

Matt Byron (26:23)

You would not.

Herm Edwards (26:23)

I wouldn't take any. No, see, I believe this. And I've always told players this. Look, I'm not gonna fine you. You guys make too much money. Fine, don't hurt you. But when you don't play, now you get that part. I said, you ain't gonna play. I did that. And I did that to John Abraham. One week, I said, man, you go stand by me the rest of the game. You. The next week, you. You. You get to. You ain't playing, you go stand by me. He wouldn't play, guys.

Matt Byron (26:52)

Yeah.

Herm Edwards (26:54)

He would not play.

Matt Byron (26:56)

You gotta find what works. All right, let's talk about the game starting today. So many. Everybody's in a good mood today because nobody, Nobody. They have lost. They all got to play. So there's a lot of teams we can visit. But I'll tell you, the two teams that know they got good teams, they're going for a Super Bowl. They're playing tonight, Bills and Ravens.

Herm Edwards (27:15)

This game, this is.

Matt Byron (27:17)

I mean, it's a great game, but is it also. I mean, this could be for playoff seating at some point. It matters a lot, right?

Herm Edwards (27:23)

It matters. And it matters in the fact that the way the Ravens left it last year, you know, Mark Andrews obviously dropped a two point play. He lost a Fumble. I mean, you know, Lamar missed the throw. I mean, it's, it's one of those games where I think if you're the Baltimore Ravens, this is, you got to win this game. And I do think this. Physically, they're a big football team. On offense, when you think about, you know, the size of these guys, Andrews, 6 5, 2, 50. Derrick Henry, the runners, 250 at 6 3. And then they got, they got D hop all of a sudden, the big receiver, physical receiver, he's about 225. So I think the physicality wears the Buffalo's Bills defense down some. But I think it's going to be a great game. Guys, I think you got two quarterbacks that scare you to death defensively. Think about it this way. On defense, you got to have a spy player on Lamar Jackson, but he better be fast because if he can't run, Lamar Jackson is going to outrun him. And then Josh Allen's extreme opposite. You got to have a spy player on him, but you got to have a physical enough guy that can tackle him and get him on the ground.

Myron Metcalf (28:30)

Yeah, Coach, I never believed in the Travis Hunter experiment. I've been saying for months that he can't play two positions in the NFL. Jags say today he's going to be a wide receiver, situational cornerback. What's realistic for Travis Hunter this season?

Herm Edwards (28:46)

Well, I think they're, they're correct in this sense. I would have used him as a corner. But when you look at their offense, their offense is only scoring 18 points a game. They were 26. They, they need some more juice in that offense. Right. So he's an explosive player with the ball in his hand. I think on third down you put him in some situational situations as a corner, you know, and play him that way. But to me, you know, you know, how you use him is one thing. But this is what I want to know. When is Trevor Lawrence going to be the Trevor Lawrence that we anticipate he was going to be?

Matt Byron (29:19)

Guys. Well, it's got to be this year, doesn't it? I mean, I mean, he's got Liam, he's got Liam Cohen, who I know really well because he was at Kentucky. He turned Will Levis into a draft pick. If he resurrected Baker Mayfield's career, like, if he can't do it with him, is it just. He's not going to do it?

Herm Edwards (29:36)

Well, I don't. That's why, look, why hasn't he done it yet? He's not like a first year player.

Matt Byron (29:41)

It's True.

Herm Edwards (29:42)

I mean, remember when Trevor Lawrence was drafted? We went, oh, man, this dude's going to be terrific. Really?

Matt Byron (29:49)

Well, we'll find out. Let me ask.

Herm Edwards (29:51)

Good guys.

Matt Byron (29:52)

Let me ask you about Jaden Daniels. You coached him in college, CJ Stroud. Last. Last year, or kind of had a sophomore jinx, right? Played great as a rookie, then kind of took a regression. Do you expect that from Jaden Daniels in any form?

Herm Edwards (30:08)

You know, I don't. I say that, but I say it. I'm not 100% confident because I know your second year is always your hardest year.

Matt Byron (30:16)

Why is that? Why is it for players? It is.

Herm Edwards (30:19)

It's just. It's one of those deals, man. And I remember it was for me as well. You know, I came in the league as a rookie, started 6 ints. My first year, boy, I said, my second year, I'm gonna get 10. You know, I had all these aspirations, you know, and I started out slow, and Dick called me in, Vermeil said, hey, man, you know what? You're playing against you, man, you just got to lighten up. And I think Jaden, knowing him, his personality, I don't think that will happen, but it's part of the deal. I do think this. I think with Debo now, that brings another element to this offense, and for me, it's more on Cliff Kingsbury. How are you calling the game now? Because I'm gonna tell you something right now, guys, if Debo Samuel don't touch the ball, you got a problem on the sideline, you got problem. You got a main issue. Because he wants the ball, right? So you got to get him the ball. I. I think Jaden, you know, I. Hey, will he throw more interceptions? I don't know. He doesn't turn the ball over. That's not his deal. I think he can go for 35 touchdowns this year. You know, I don't know if he takes that step back. His whole key is just knowing Jane and Washington. They want to win a division. Well, guess what? Good luck, because it goes through Philadelphia.

Myron Metcalf (31:38)

Coach Ben Johnson has not been shy about saying, Caleb has work to do. You know, he's got to digest the playbook. We're looking at him to improve in different areas. Why do you think he's taking that approach to a guy who, you know, clearly has a lot of pressure on him in year two?

Herm Edwards (31:54)

Well, I think he's. He's really kind of calling him out. And I do believe this. I think if you're Caleb Williams, you're excited about Ben Johnson being Your coach, because I watched him in the preseason, and I get it's only a preseason, but he looked like an entirely different guy. Guy.

Matt Byron (32:11)

Yeah, he did.

Herm Edwards (32:12)

And he got the ball out of his hand. It was like, whoa. And you could just tell he has. Look, this guy has as much talent is Jaden. Now, he can't run like Jaden, but he has arm talent and can throw it. He can do all that. Guys. It's kind of funny, you know, and here's. I think he's going to improve. I really do. Doesn't mean Chicago's getting in the playoffs. I think they can win eight games, maybe nine. Okay, but here's the question I'm going to ask. What does the Detroit Lions do now with Jared Goff, with John Morton being the officer coordinator? You know, he had chemistry with Ben Johnson. Is he going to call it the way that golf likes to call it in certain situations? I mean, that's going to be interesting to watch.

Matt Byron (33:00)

There are two strong forces, Herm, that operate in my mind. Number one, I'm a big Mike Tomlin guy.

Myron Metcalf (33:08)

I think it's a.

Matt Byron (33:09)

He can. You can put anything in front of him, and he. Obviously, he'll. He'll have a winning record. But I'm a big anti Aaron Rodgers guy who. I would rather listen to a grasshopper chirp than listen to him talk. So I've got this great force on my left shoulder, and I got this bad force on my right shoulder. Which one is winning out this year in Pittsburgh.

Herm Edwards (33:31)

I think Aaron Rodgers has been humbled the last two seasons, and he goes to a place that has structure. You think this is what. This is what I'm hoping, You know, I'm good. I'm a good. I'm with Mike. Mike's my guy. And I do believe this. He goes to a team that. He realizes that, look, I got a team that can get in the playoffs. This is why I'm here. And coach probably told him that, hey, man, you're here for one reason, to win playoff games. Now, I want to see how Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf work together. That could be interesting, you know, because this offensive Pittsburgh, it was, you know, it was good. Okay. And then the defense, the last five games was awful. Guys, they were just really bad. And so I just think this is Aaron Rodgers last hurrah. So we'll see.

Matt Byron (34:31)

I love your optimism. That's the thing about Herb. He's got optimism. He's always optimistic.

Herm Edwards (34:37)

It's opening day.

Matt Byron (34:40)

My man's optimistic. He's going on Good Morning America 3 coming up this afternoon. He's ready to run. That's right, Herb Edwards. A lot of fun. Looking forward to having you in studio. You need to fly up this way.

Herm Edwards (34:53)

The only reason I'm not there, I got hip surgery two weeks ago.

Matt Byron (34:56)

Okay, well, let me try.

Herm Edwards (34:58)

Feel bad, but I'm good. I can really. I want to go, but between the doctor and my wife, they won't let me get on airplane yet. But I'm two weeks out, and then you'll see me in studio.

Matt Byron (35:07)

Two weeks out. All right, I appreciate it, Herm. We will see you then.

Herm Edwards (35:11)

Appreciate you guys.

Matt Byron (35:12)

There you go. Her metwards here on Matt Myron, one of our favorite guys. We'll start breaking down some individual games. And by the way, I'll take the opposite side of the Aaron Rodgers prediction. This is Matt Byron on espn.

Myron Metcalf (35:26)

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Matt Byron (36:43)

It is Myron's favorite country singer, Shabuzzi here. I'm Matt Myron on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance Song Man. What?

Myron Metcalf (36:52)

I think it's time for another song. That's all. I mean, I don't know.

Matt Byron (36:55)

He's not gonna have any more songs. You just. It's. You're still there. Well, you've been waiting for Chumbawamba's next song. It's not coming. Like, it's just not. It's not coming. You've got the Shaboozi song. He'll be singing this in 30 years at a casino in southern Indiana. He will Be.

Myron Metcalf (37:11)

And they will fill it up, too, to hear that song.

Matt Byron (37:14)

They're gonna be like, honey, play the double shot of whiskey song again.

Myron Metcalf (37:19)

He's going to be playing a lot of casino throughout the middle of America.

Matt Byron (37:23)

The good thing about being in country is he can now add Branson, Missouri to the tour. Right.

Myron Metcalf (37:28)

Like, he's going to be down there.

Matt Byron (37:30)

That's what he can do. So it's. It's no problem with that. All right, so now let's. Let's get into some games here. Mine. I can't be fooling around with you anymore. The Giants.

Myron Metcalf (37:39)

What does that mean?

Matt Byron (37:40)

I mean, I just can't take out y' all your little nonsense, your non sequiturs wanting to talk about other things. The Giants and the Commander. It's NFL Giants and the Commanders are playing today. And apparently the Giants have announced, according to Dan Graziano, that a package of plays will be there designed for Jackson Dart in the event that he plays. Which, of course, you would only say if you thought he was going to play. If I'm Russell Wilson, like, I'm already. I'm already. Ask if I can get out of my lease.

Myron Metcalf (38:12)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, right.

Matt Byron (38:15)

I mean, it's just. It's when it's game one and we're already designing a set of plays, I think unless your name's Taysom Hill, I think there's very few people that. That doesn't mean he'll be the starter sooner rather than later.

Myron Metcalf (38:28)

Yeah, that's like if you were having a family move, you know, to New York, you just say, hold, hold off a little bit. Like, let's wait.

Matt Byron (38:35)

Hold up.

Myron Metcalf (38:36)

Hold up on the moving van.

Matt Byron (38:37)

Go ahead and stay. I don't think it's going to be a long time. Yeah, don't bring the moving van.

Myron Metcalf (38:44)

Just call it off. Because, I mean, here's the thing, man. I think in this league, everybody's trying to save their jobs. And you have a guy and Brian Dabble, who is really trying to save his job. Front office guys trying to save their jobs. I think that's hard to do with a Russell Wilson. Like, let's say Russell Wilson is good. He's never going to be the old Russell Wilson. They don't have the pieces around him for him to be that. Right. But I think if you have a young quarterback that shows promise, you can attach yourself to that. You can say, okay, we have something. Jackson Dart. Let us be the guys to continue to mold him. So I just think we're going to see Jackson Dart sooner rather than later. I don't think they expected him to be this good. I don't think they thought he would look this good in the preseason. But in this NFL, Matt, what are we waiting for? Like, if he's your best player.

Matt Byron (39:32)

Well, you also think about it Brian Dabel and Joe Sheen. Who, Shane. Who are fighting for their jobs. Right. And if you come out and you're playing Russell Wilson and you're one in four, people are like, what are we waiting on? But if you're playing Jackson Dart, if you're one in four and he's playing well, might be a different situation. Now, the Commanders, we talked about the pressure of sort of the sophomore year thing. What's interesting about this game today is that both of the games last year where the Commanders played the Giants, they could have lost. You know, one of them, the Giants, lost their field goal kicker, remember? And they were just having to go for it on everything. And so, like, that was a weird game. I think the Giants win if they have their field goal kicker. And then the last game, I think it came down to the final play. So for whatever reason, the Giants have played Jaden Daniels and these Commanders very well.

Myron Metcalf (40:24)

Yeah, I mean, small sample size. Right. But I think the thing that works.

Matt Byron (40:28)

Why you got to dismiss my point? Say small sample size. You only play twice a year. How many times do you want them?

Myron Metcalf (40:33)

I wasn't. I wasn't dismissing it. I was just saying small sample size.

Matt Byron (40:38)

How many games would have been enough? Six, Eight?

Myron Metcalf (40:40)

I was going to help your point. I was about to help you.

Matt Byron (40:42)

All right. All right.

Myron Metcalf (40:42)

One of the things that happened in that game was that the Commanders didn't have a great run defense. Right. Gave up a lot of yards on the ground. So I think this is a commander's team that still has to figure out its gaps. And you mentioned what, Herm? The sophomore slump. We have seen this a bunch. Like, we've seen a bunch of guys throughout NFL history who looked incredible in year one. And all of a sudden, Matt, it's almost like teams have film on them.

Matt Byron (41:04)

Yeah.

Myron Metcalf (41:05)

And they can game plan differently.

Matt Byron (41:08)

Yeah. Yeah.

Myron Metcalf (41:09)

I just wonder if that happens with Jaden Daniels. Nobody expected that from Jaden Daniels. Like, no one thought Washington would be a threat. Now you've had an entire off season to get ready for him. This year could be different for him because of that.

Matt Byron (41:21)

Yeah, I think that's a key thing. You go in the off season, especially with these divisional opponents, and they spend they can rather than three days getting a game plan, they can spend Three months and they can look at you and go, all right, this kind of is where I didn't recognize you had a weakness, but you do. And if anybody's gonna be able to do that, I do think the Giants and their defense should be able to. Now another game between two teams that actually had quarterbacks at various points that went through those slumps, Rams and the Texans. It'd be interesting to see can the Texans bounce back from even though they made the playoffs last year, somewhat of a disappointing year. And the Rams Matthew Stafford is going to play. That's big news. I think this is actually a sneaky good game. The Rams are my sneaky super bowl pick. Not a lot of people picking them, but I'm kind of over there surfing on Rams, super bowl wave. And the Texans, you know, they can probably win that division starting me and you as running backs. So what do you see in this game that actually could end up having playoff implications way down the road?

Myron Metcalf (42:22)

I think it's big for both teams, right? I mean, to your point, the Texans, C.J. stroud, I feel like, you know, he, he's coming out to prove that that first year wasn't, wasn't a one time thing, a fluke. Remember he was on all those podcasts talking about it's Tom Brady, Mahomes and me, you know, after that first year. Then last year he struggled. So we'll see how, how he plays. Joe Mixon being hurt. Now Nick Chubbs, your starting quarterback. The offensive line has problems.

Matt Byron (42:49)

Hang on. He said he was Tom Brady, Mahomes and him.

Myron Metcalf (42:52)

He said that he was on a bunch of podcasts and he was a top five quarterback. Like he was, he was asked to name like who's like your all time quarterback. I think he said like Brady and me or something like that. He had a level of arrogance after that first year. He had a level of arrogance after that first year. But one thing you didn't see this off season. Matt Zero podcasts from CJ Strut. I haven't seen him appear on one podcast.

Matt Byron (43:12)

Well, there are a lot. There are so many podcasts now. Maybe I missed it. Like maybe he did he go on like bad friends with Andrew and Bobby Lee.

Myron Metcalf (43:21)

It felt like he was on every week, but not this week. But then I think on the, on the flip side, you look at all the pieces they have with the Rams. Kyron Williams, Devonte Adams joining Pook and the cool. Like they have all the pieces to make a run. That young Rams defense, a lot of people thought that they would struggle after losing Eric Donald and I think they surprised people. But your 37 year old quarterback has an aggravated disc in his back. So like nothing feels certain for the Rams.

Matt Byron (43:47)

First of all, I think the Rams, if Matthew Stafford is healthy, I think they have next the Eagles, as good a chance as anybody in the West. If you remember, they played the Eagles very well last year. Now the key is you have a 37 year old with a bad back. Okay, yes, I'm not 37, but I'm very close and I have a bad back. And when you have a bad back, sometimes you get up in the morning and you're just like, okay, I'm not moving today. Now, I don't have one of those, as they would say, double shots of whiskey they put in my back in the Rams sideline that lets you play, but it is something to watch. I can't imagine Matthew Stafford. Myron starts every game this year, for instance.

Myron Metcalf (44:28)

I mean, he missed most of training camp with this, you know, like we didn't see him because of this in the preseason. So I want to see how durable he is once the season gets going. But if Jimmy Garoppolo ends up being a guy who has to play a lot of games, that changes everything for the Rams.

Matt Byron (44:45)

You, you've always hated Jimmy G. You've.

Myron Metcalf (44:47)

Always been, you've liked him because he got that young and the restless look. Jimmy G, I don't know.

Matt Byron (44:52)

Jimmy G has done something that gets underrated. Oddly, in the NFL, he wins. It's always been so people just skip over that he wins. And then people are like, oh, he doesn't. And throw it down to the he wins. Which the last time I checked was part of what you're supposed to do. More NFL next here on Matt and Myon.

Myron Metcalf (45:15)

Matt and Myron, the podcast.

Herm Edwards (45:21)

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates. The three point ball has created a.

Matt Byron (45:25)

Monotonous rhythm to the game.

Herm Edwards (45:27)

Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric.

Matt Byron (45:34)

Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined. I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history.

Herm Edwards (45:44)

30 for 30 podcast presents Chasing Basketball Heaven. Available now wherever you get your podcasts.